Relationship With The Governor
The State Treasurer is an independently elected officer with both Constitutional and Statutory authority. As such, the Governor has no direct authority over the State Treasurer. However, Oklahoma's history of electing Governors and Treasurers of the same party has often led to positive working relationships between the two offices. With Governor Mary Fallin and State Treasurer Ken A. Miller, both Republicans, Oklahoma has had a Governor and State Treasurer of the same party since 2003.
The State Treasurer is the state's elected chief fiscal officer and is directly accountable to the voters. In contrast, the Governor's Secretary of Finance reports directly to the Governor. Only once in recent history has a State Treasurer also served as the Governor's budget advisor; Governor Brad Henry appointed Miller's predecessor Scott Meacham as his Secretary of Finance and Revenue, giving Meacham supervision over all finance agencies of the State government.
When the Governor and State Treasurer are of different parties, the State Treasurer's role in State government is often minimal.
The Governor, acting through the Oklahoma Office of State Finance (whose Director serves at the pleasure of the Governor), can only suggest a budget to the Legislature, which is charged with crafting the funding decisions. The Governor does have veto power to influence the end result of the budget. The State Treasurer does not have the power to alter the budget or to impound funds, but the success of the Treasurer's investments influence the funds available for allocation.
Read more about this topic: Oklahoma State Treasurer
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